Under the bill (A2354), businesses with 10 or more employees would be required to let workers earn at least 72 hours of paid time off that they could use either to stay home when sick or care for ill family members. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees would be required to let their employees earn 40 hours of sick time. A worker would earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.

Earned sick leave could be used for employees to recover from their own mental or physical illnesses, care for family members or deal with either being the victim or having a family member who is the victim of domestic violence.

“Workers should not have to choose between caring for their health and keeping their paychecks or jobs,” said Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden), a sponsor of the bill. “Guaranteeing workers the ability to earn paid sick days would help ensure workers do not have to choose between their health and their economic security. New Jersey should be a leader in the fight for this common sense, pro-worker policy.”

Labor unions and liberal advocacy groups have banded together to push for the law in New Jersey in a dual-pronged effort that includes pushing it in municipalities. The advocates say part-time, low-wage workers are the least likely to receive paid time off.

Already, Newark and Jersey City have enacted the a paid sick leave law, while similar ordinances have been approved in Paterson, Passaic, Irvington and East Orange. Montclair and Trenton voters are set to decide if their towns should do the same in next week’s election.

Business advocacy groups, on the other hand, said it would only further burden companies and small employers still struggling to recover from the recent recession.

And the statewide bill’s future is uncertain at best. While it has the support of the Legislature’s Democratic leaders, Gov. Chris Christie, who would have to approve it, has said he has “grave concerns” about it and that it would make New Jersey “less competitive for businesses.” Even some of the law’s supporters have acknowledged it’s not likely to make it past Christie’s desk.

Assemblyman Parker Space (R-Sussex), who voted against the bill in committee, issued a statement calling it a “job-killing government mandate on businesses.”

“We can’t keep piling on the already high cost of doing business in the state and wonder why nearly 300,000 people are out of work,” said Space. “Small businesses need flexibility in order to do what they do best – create jobs."

The bill was delayed last week so that it could be amended, partly at the request of the building trades unions. Among the amendments is one that exempts construction employees who are already covered under a collective bargaining agreement. Another amendment clarifies the definition of domestic violence.